Bangkok 2013: Ford to launch refreshed Fiesta 1.0L EcoBoost

AUTO NEWS

Part of Ford's B-Segment strategy

by Vince Pornelos

March 27, 2013 11:49

During the 2013 Bangkok International Motor Show, with Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally in attendance, Ford ASEAN made the much awaited announcement that the 1.0L EcoBoost engine will at long last be launched in the upcoming update of the Ford Fiesta.

Mullaly was the surprise guest at the 34th BIMS, and welcomed both the EcoSport and the EcoBoost-powered Fiesta on the opening day of the show.

The new Fiesta has been updated with a revised front end, particularly the headlamps and the grille, for a more premium overall design, while the rear end gets a new set of taillamps.

On the inside, the Fiesta gets new fonts for the LCD display, a +/- shifter-mounted button for the 6-speed Powershift transmission, as well as an upgraded audio system as it is now equipped with Ford SYNC (previous models only had Bluetooth Voice Control, or BVC).

The updated Ford Fiesta is set to be produced with 3 engines: a 1.4L Duratec, a 1.5L Duratec Ti-VCT, and a 1.0L EcoBoost Ti-VCT. The 95 PS 1.4L engine remains the same while the 120 PS 1.6L Ti-VCT we have in the Philippines will be discontinued in favor of the 108 PS 1.5L.

The 3-cylinder 1.0L EcoBoost is of particular interest, as it is touted to produce 120 PS and 170 Nm, rivalling most of the current 1.6 liter naturally aspirated engines. The EcoBoost achieves this power and torque through advanced technologies such as direct injection and a turbo with minimized lag, as well as simple yet clever engineering... like an exhaust manifold cast into the cylinder head to benefit from the water cooling of the engine.